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When Doc Rivers saw the horde of media awaiting him this morning, he joked that he hoped he'd never have to see us again. Rivers might have made that happen if he walked away from the Celtics after last season.

But after much deliberation, Rivers decided to return to the bench for at least one more season. Thus he was faced with a slew of reporters this morning before the Celtics charity golf tournament at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy. It was clear that Rivers is recharged and eager to chase another championship.

“It was quick, but it was a good summer," Rivers said. "Good to be back. I’m ready to get started actually. (There’s) a lot of anticipation.”

Rivers said his enthusiasm is shared by his players, who spent three months thinking about their Finals loss to the Lakers.

“I think we’re ready to go," Rivers said. "I can compare this to the year we won it and it was a short summer. I thought that summer when we got back guys were like, ‘God, we got to start over again.’ I think these guys can’t wait to get started. That’s a good sign.”

That enthusiasm doesn't ensure it will be all smooth sailing for the Celtics this season. On a team already loaded with sizable egos, the C's added a crew of newcomers who are used to being focal points. The challenge of balancing all those personalities will fall to Rivers.

"If everybody is in it for the right reason, there’s no problems," Rivers said. "If anybody is not in it for the right reason then there’s always problems. We’ll find out if we have any of those. We’re hoping we don’t. I don’t think we will, but I also don’t know. Everyone says the right thing in August. Heck, I could get the best player in the NBA and say, ‘I’m going to play you 10 minutes,’ and he’ll agree to it in August. But when the ball flies up in the air and they start playing, that’s a whole different story.”

Rivers hopes to sort out any issues in training camp, which begins on Tuesday at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I. The C's originally had planned to hold camp at their practice facility in Waltham, but with so many new faces, the decision was made to hit the road to expedite some team bonding.

The biggest pieces for Rivers to integrate are free agent centers Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal. While Jermaine has the inside track at the starting job, both will be needed to fill the void left by starter Kendrick Perkins, who is out until February as he recovers from knee surgery.

"Perk, verbally, we’re not going to get that. And that’s going to hurt us defensively because I thought him and Kevin (Garnett) were the two loudest guys on defense," Rivers said. "I don’t know Shaq or Jermaine well enough to know if they’re that verbal. I can almost take a guess that they’re not. There’s no way they are. There’s no way they’re on the same page that Perk and Kevin are, but that’s what camp is for and that’s what we’re going to work to try to get it to.”

The Celtics coaching staff took a few hits this offseason, with top assistant Tom Thibodeau leaving to take over the head job in Chicago and big man specialist Clifford Ray being let go.

“It was difficult parting ways with Cliff," Rivers said. "I had dinner and lunch with Thibs on Sunday and Monday – I saw him too much actually. I told him he’s not with me anymore, get away from me. You form a special bond with all those guys, especially with Cliff. Cliff’s been with me for a while and someday he may be back with me. It’s always tough.”